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1 – 10 of over 87000Angela E. Okpala and Josephine U. Igbeka
This study investigates the behaviour of searchers of CD‐ROM databases in the Kenneth Dike Library of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The aim of the study was to identify the…
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the behaviour of searchers of CD‐ROM databases in the Kenneth Dike Library of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The aim of the study was to identify the behaviour of end‐users with different amounts of overall experience in searching electronic databases in order to identify the knowledge of their search systems and syntax, and its effect on their search results, for the purpose of improving user education.
Design/methodology/approach
All end‐users who conducted searches during the period of the research were the subjects of the research. A well‐constructed questionnaire, including interviews and observations, were used to collect the requisite data. The variables included in this study are user variables, search process variables and search outcome variables. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
Findings
The results show that logical operators “AND” and “OR” are significantly used for searching by end‐users; that search results are dependent on search strategy employed by the user. The more sophisticated the search strategy, the greater the result in terms of number and relevance obtained by the searcher. The result also shows that there is no relationship between the level of education of users and quality of search strategy.
Practical implications
The implication of the study is mainly the importance and necessity of training for end‐users in CD‐ROM literature search.
Originality/value
The uniqueness of the study is based on the fact that certain strategic methods are required for a successful CD‐ROM literature search and that this does not depend on the level of education of users. This paper is therefore important and applicable to all end‐users who are interested in conducting CD‐ROM literature search.
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Samson Onyeluka Chukwuedo, Anthony Osinachi Okorafor, Ikechukwu Chidiebere Odogwu and Francisca Nebechi Nnajiofor
Within the umbrella of technology and vocational education (TVET), technology or technical education in higher institutions of learning is obligated to produce the required…
Abstract
Purpose
Within the umbrella of technology and vocational education (TVET), technology or technical education in higher institutions of learning is obligated to produce the required manpower needed in the industry. Thus, it is pertinent to explore the interaction between the industry and higher education students. Drawing on the tenets of theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study offers valuable insights into the nomological networks of work-integrated learning (WIL), perceived behavioral control (PBC), subjective norm (SBN), personal attitude (PAT) and job search intention (JSI).
Design/methodology/approach
The study applied a structurally hypothesized model that was drawn from the TPB to collect data for the constructs. Using a cross-sectional survey after the WIL experiences of the students, we collected data from technology education undergraduates (N = 214) in their final academic year from universities in Nigeria.
Findings
With structural equation modeling, the study found that WIL is directly associated with JSI, PBC, SBN and PAT. In line with the tenets of the TPB, simple mediation models were supported about the influence of WIL on JSI via PBC and PAT discretely but not via SBN. Further, the results support two paths of serial mediation models, indicating sequential indirect links between WIL and JSI via SBN and PBC, as well as via SBN and PAT.
Research limitations/implications
Our findings have implications for higher education practitioners, industry experts and employers of labor.
Originality/value
Although extant literature has relatively shown that WIL impacts employability skills, this study has remarkably shown the WIL-JSI nexuses within the variables of TPB.
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It is important that all those involved with education and training for online searching are aware of the teaching aids which have been produced and are used. This paper aims to…
Abstract
It is important that all those involved with education and training for online searching are aware of the teaching aids which have been produced and are used. This paper aims to provide some of this information by describing primarily aids which have been developed and are used within the UK schools of librarianship and information science; however aids which are used by other organisations in various parts of the world have also been included.
Rachael L. Tawbush, Sabrina D. Stanley, Tye G. Campbell and Melissa A. Webb
This study analyzed articles from India, Italy and Singapore regarding how science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education is conceptualized in the K-12 setting…
Abstract
Purpose
This study analyzed articles from India, Italy and Singapore regarding how science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education is conceptualized in the K-12 setting. The research questions that guided our study were as follows: (1) How is K-12 STEM education conceptualized in literature in other countries? (2) Which STEM subject areas are more documented in K-12 STEM literature? (3) How are K-12 STEM teaching practices implemented?
Design/methodology/approach
This study utilized a systematic literature review methodology by (1) creating search terms based on the research questions, (2) choosing databases in which to conduct the search, (3) conducting the search and gathering articles and (4) selecting articles based on inclusion criteria. We chose search terms according to three domains relevant to our study as follows: countries of interest, content of interest and teaching practices. Articles researched were (1) an empirical journal article or literature review; (2) primarily focused on the concept of K-12 STEM teaching practices in one of the countries of interest and (3) written in English.
Findings
Findings from the study revealed few articles addressed a conceptualization of STEM; however, the majority of articles agreed upon the importance of STEM teaching methods in the K-12 classroom setting. Science was documented as the top documented area in K-12 STEM literature for India and Italy, whereas technology and mathematics were the top documented areas in Singapore. Comparing K-12 STEM teaching practices, Italy and Singapore were found to focus more on student-centered STEM teaching practices whereas schools in India mostly utilized student-centered teaching approaches.
Research limitations/implications
The parameters of the systematic literature review, such as key terms used in the search and limited scope of countries investigated, were identified as limitations of the study. By expanding search parameters to include other countries or search terms, STEM education can be viewed on a more global scale.
Practical implications
This study will improve the global perspective of STEM education practices.
Originality/value
This study is unique in that it compared the conceptualization and K-12 STEM teaching practices implemented in India, Italy and Singapore.
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Gemma Tejedor, Martí Rosas-Casals and Jordi Segalas
This paper aims to identify patterns and trends taking place in engineering education in sustainability, through analyzing the evolution of research conducted in relevant…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify patterns and trends taking place in engineering education in sustainability, through analyzing the evolution of research conducted in relevant publications in the field of engineering education for sustainability in the past decades.
Design/methodology/approach
First, a bibliometric approach has been applied, adopting a co-word analysis based on co-occurrence of the keywords (300 items) in articles from three indexed journals related to engineering, education or sustainability. The selection of the articles has been based on the appearance of the previous three terms in the topic and title fields of the journal, where journal scope (based in the categories of the InCites Journal Citation Reports) covered at least two topics, and the third topic was applied in the search, as follows: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education – Scope of the journal: sustainability and education, Keyword search: engineering (20 papers); Journal of Cleaner Production – Scope of the journal: sustainability and engineering, Keyword search: education (122 papers); International Journal of Engineering Education – Scope of the journal: engineering and education, Keyword search: sustainability (29 papers); Second, to identify topological patterns and their evolution, a structural and temporal analysis of the network of keywords and a categorization of the keywords in thematic clusters (named categories) have been performed.
Findings
The most relevant categories in terms of corresponding number of keywords, even though these have decreased in recent years, are those related with institutional and policy aspects to embedding or applying sustainability in higher education. At the same time, categories related to the professional development of faculty members, implementation and use of learning strategies (i.e. real-world learning experiences, educational innovative initiatives/tools/techniques) and cross-boundary schemes (i.e. transdisciplinarity, ethics, networking, etc.) increase their relevance in the past five years, signaling some of the challenging fields of interest in engineering higher education in sustainability in the near future.
Practical implications
Knowledge of the trends in devising sustainability education in engineering allows for designing curricular schemes and learning strategies to achieve competences, which are key factors for the change toward sustainability.
Originality/value
This research has a strong strategic value, as it indicates the focus of future research efforts and networking on some of the topics of greatest concern in engineering higher education for sustainability.
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Anna Sung, Kelvin Leong, Paolo Sironi, Tim O’Reilly and Alison McMillan
The purpose of this paper is to explore two identified knowledge gaps: first, the identification and analysis of online searching trends for Financial Technology (FinTech)-related…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore two identified knowledge gaps: first, the identification and analysis of online searching trends for Financial Technology (FinTech)-related jobs and education information in UK, and second to assess the current strength of the FinTech-related job distribution in terms of job titles and locations in UK, job market in UK and what is required to help it to grow.
Design/methodology/approach
Two sets of data were used in this study in order to fill the two identified knowledge gaps. First, six years’ worth of data, for the period from September 2012 to August 2018 was collected from Google Trends. This was in the form of search term keyword text. The hypothesis was designed correspondingly, and the results were reviewed and evaluated using a relevant statistical tool. Second, relevant data were extracted from the “Indeed” website (www.indeed.co.uk) by means of a simple VBA programme written in Excel. In total, the textual data for 500 job advertisements, including the keyword “FinTech”, were downloaded from that website.
Findings
The authors found that there was a continuously increasing trend in the use of the keyword “fintech” under the category “Jobs and Education” in online searching from September 2012 to August 2018. The authors demonstrated that this trend was statistically significant. In contrast, the trends for searches using both “finance” and “accounting” were slightly decreased over the same period. Furthermore, the authors identified the geographic distribution of the fintech-related jobs in the UK. In regard to job titles, the authors discovered that “manager” was the most frequently searched term, followed by “developer” and “engineer”.
Research limitations/implications
Educators could use this research as a reference in the development of the portfolio of their courses. In addition, the findings from this study could also enable potential participators to reflect on their career development. It is worth noting that the motivations for carrying out an internet search are complex, and each of these needs to be understood. There are many factors that would affect how an information seeker would behave with the obtained information. More work is still needed in order to encourage more people to enter to the FinTech sector.
Originality/value
In the planning stage prior to launching a new course educators often need to justify the market need: this analysis could provide a supporting rationale and enable a new course to launch more quickly. Consequently, the pipeline of talent supply to the sector would also be benefitted. The authors believe this is the first time that a study like this had been conducted to explore specifically the availability and opportunities for FinTech education and retraining in UK. The authors anticipate that this study will become the primary reference for researchers, educators and policy makers engaged in future research or practical applications on related topics.
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Before libraries make the decision to implement CD‐ROM technology, they must take into account many factors. Deciding to set up CD‐ROM workstations certainly has a financial…
Abstract
Before libraries make the decision to implement CD‐ROM technology, they must take into account many factors. Deciding to set up CD‐ROM workstations certainly has a financial impact on the library's budget as well as an ongoing impact on staff at the Reference desk. Costs, training staff and end users, hardware compatibility, software concerns, multiple products, and networking are all concerns which will need to be addressed by libraries in their decision to take the plunge into CD‐ROM. This article will address some of these concerns faced by libraries today.
Bilingual education is a strong component in some education systems, districts, and academic curriculums, and non‐existent in others. There is presently much controversy…
Abstract
Bilingual education is a strong component in some education systems, districts, and academic curriculums, and non‐existent in others. There is presently much controversy surrounding the issue of whether or not bilingual education is effective in providing non‐English speaking children a good education. Government officials, researchers, and educators all differ as to the need of bilingual education, especially when funding is under consideration. Thus, the need for in‐depth research is in great demand. The availability of the Bilingual Education Bibliographic Abstracts (BEBA) database provides a primary resource for research in this burgeoning area. The question is thus raised, how effective is BEBA in comparison with other databases such as ERIC, Exceptional Child Education Resources, Language and Language Behavior Abstracts, MLA Bibliography, National Institute for Mental Health, Psychological Abstracts, School Practices Information File, and Sociological Abstracts. This study attempts to investigate the differences among these databases and to provide the reader a better understanding of BEBA.
Per Blenker, Stine Trolle Elmholdt, Signe Hedeboe Frederiksen, Steffen Korsgaard and Kathleen Wagner
Research in entrepreneurship education faces substantial tensions and methodological challenges. Building on a review of extant empirical studies in the field, the purpose of this…
Abstract
Purpose
Research in entrepreneurship education faces substantial tensions and methodological challenges. Building on a review of extant empirical studies in the field, the purpose of this paper is to develop an integrative methodological framework for studying entrepreneurship education. Central questions are: What forms of entrepreneurship education research exist? Which data sources, research methods and approaches are used in this research? What are the methodological strengths and weaknesses of entrepreneurship education research? How can entrepreneurship education research be improved methodologically?
Design/methodology/approach
The paper combines a literature review with a conceptual discussion. The review identifies 88 journal articles reporting empirical studies of entrepreneurship education published between 2002 and 2012. The literature is coded according to method used, type of study, data collection and analysis techniques. From the analysis of the reviewed literature, a conceptual discussion of the advantages and drawbacks of various methods is undertaken, and an integrated approach to entrepreneurship education research is proposed.
Findings
Research in entrepreneurship education is fragmented both conceptually and methodologically. Findings suggest that the methods applied in entrepreneurship education research cluster in two groups: first, quantitative studies of the extent and effect of entrepreneurship education; and second, qualitative single case studies of different courses and programmes. Benefits and drawbacks haunt both clusters. Quantitative studies bring objectivity, comparability and generalizability, but show limited appreciation of the heterogeneity of the education they seek to measure. Qualitative single case studies are ripe with contextually sensitive descriptions and best pedagogical practices, but suffer from limited comparability and generalizability as well as severe biases of teacher-researcher conflation.
Originality/value
The suggested methodological framework builds on a systematic review of the research methods applied in extant entrepreneurship education research. It integrates qualitative and quantitative techniques, the use of research teams consisting of insiders (teachers studying their own teaching) and outsiders (research collaborators studying the education) as well as multiple types of data. To gain both in-depth and analytically generalizable studies of entrepreneurship courses and programmes, the suggested framework integrates the empirical sensitivity of qualitative techniques and diverse research positions, with the rigour of quantitative measures. The authors argue that studies of entrepreneurship education benefit from this integration. Furthermore, the authors describe a variety of helpful methods, explore the potential relation between insiders and outsiders in the research process and discuss how different types of data can be combined. The integrated framework urges researchers to extend investments in methodological efforts and to enhance the in-depth understanding of the dynamics and challenges of teaching entrepreneurship.
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Amador Durán-Sánchez, María de la Cruz Del Río-Rama, José Álvarez-García and Diego Fernando García-Vélez
The purpose of this paper is to present an in-depth analysis of the current state of research related to Education for Entrepreneurship in Higher Education. Education for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present an in-depth analysis of the current state of research related to Education for Entrepreneurship in Higher Education. Education for entrepreneurship is one of the fastest growing fields within academic training worldwide, which is a good indicator of the importance that entrepreneurship and the creation of companies have for the economic development of any society. Education for entrepreneurship is essential, not only to promote an entrepreneurial spirit among young people but also to provide the basic skills, knowledge and innovative attitudes to carry out new business models successfully.
Design/methodology/approach
A descriptive bibliometric study was carried out with analysis of citations of 164 articles included in the multidisciplinary database Scopus (Elsevier) until 2017.
Findings
The results obtained show a growing interest of the scientific community in its study, as shown by the significant increase both in the number of articles and their citations in recent years.
Research limitations/implications
In any bibliometric study, the limitation involved when analysing the results, the choice of a specific database and a specific search equation must be taken into account. With respect to the search terms, those used in this research may not be possible, the inclusion of new terms will alter the results. On the other hand, the aim was not to evaluate the quality of the content of the selected articles at any time, an objective that can be considered in a subsequent investigation, but a descriptive-quantitative analysis of the works and citations related to Education for Entrepreneurship in Higher Education, present in Scopus. To expand the present study, it would be interesting to examine the documents indexed in other databases (Redalyc, Scielo, ProQuest, Directory of Open Access Journals[DOAJ]), together with the possibility of including comparative and overlapping studies between them.
Originality/value
The purpose of this work is to serve as a reference for researchers who are developing their studies in the general field of education for entrepreneurship and more specifically in the field of higher education, to improve their knowledge on the most relevant articles, the most productive authors or the key scientific journals that address this topic.
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